Two home invasions in one week in my town, how do you protect your self ?

[ColesCountyDem]

195. I live in RURAL, 'rural Illinois', so....

I live 8 miles from the nearest town, in an unincorporated area of my county, so what I do is NOT a blanket recommendation about what everyone should do. That said, here's what I do:

1.) I keep my property well lighted. I have sodium-vapor lights in my front and back yards, alongside my driveway, by my garage and by my barn. Burglars HATE well-lighted homes.

2.) I keep my doors and windows locked. Both doors are metal-clad, solid-core doors with keyed 2 3/8" deadbolts extending into steel jambs.

3.) My ornamental boxwoods are trimmed short enough to prevent anyone from using them for concealment, and I keep them that way.

4.) I have a basset hound who can hear a cricket fart at 500 yards, and who will bark LOUDLY at any 'strange' noise. Burglars HATE noisy dogs.

5.) Here's the controversial one: I have 2 loaded .12-gauge shotguns, a loaded Colt Python .357 and know how to use all of them. Again, this is RURAL, 'rural Illinois', and even if I dial 9-1-1 immediately, it is quite likely that the Sheriff's Office won't be able to respond in less than 10-15 minutes, even if the deputy drives like a bat out of hell. Until he/she gets here, I'm on my own.